Ashley Hinson hospitalized with kidney infection in Cedar Rapids

Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson of Marion was hospitalized Sunday night for a kidney infection, and a televised debate in the race for the 2nd Congressional District has been canceled.

"Congresswoman Hinson was admitted to UnityPoint St. Luke's Hospital yesterday evening where she is being treated for a kidney infection,“ Jimmy Peacock, her chief of staff, said in a statement Monday morning.

In an update Monday afternoon posted, Peacock said Hinson was feeling better but still undergoing treatment and would remain hospitalized overnight.

“She sincerely appreciates everyone who has reached out, and is grateful for the incredible doctors and nurses at St. Luke’s Hospital who have provided phenomenal care,” Peacock said in a statement.

Hinson, a Republican running for re-election to a second term in Iowa’s newly drawn 2nd District, was scheduled to debate Democratic challenger and state Sen. Liz Mathis of Hiawatha on Tuesday on Iowa PBS. A news release from Iowa PBS said both candidates were offered dates to reschedule the debate, but “none of those dates were mutually acceptable to the campaigns.”

Sophie Crowell, Hinson’s campaign manager, said in a statement the first-term incumbent “was looking forward to debating” and that the campaign “accepted all of the alternate dates offered by Iowa PBS to reschedule.”

“When she recovers from her kidney infection, she looks forward to getting back out on the trail, meeting with Iowans and in every county of the district, and answering voters’ questions,” Crowell said in a statement.

Mathis campaign spokesperson Lori Davis confirmed that the campaign’s calendar was booked for the three alternate dates proposed by Iowa PBS.

“We planned for and looked forward to debating Tuesday night, and we do wish (Hinson) the best and hope she’s feeling better,” Davis said. “Unfortunately, this close to the election, we’ve set our calendar for the rest of the election cycle for get-out-the-vote rallies and canvass launches.”

Early voting begins Wednesday; Election Day is Nov. 8.

The 2nd Congressional District includes 22 counties in Iowa’s northeast corner, and includes the cities of Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque and Mason City.

Hinson appeared at a rally Saturday with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in Iowa Falls as part of Cruz’s Take Back America bus tour ahead of the midterm elections.

Mathis, in a statement, said she was sorry to learn of Hinson’s hospitalization and wished her a speedy recovery “and for her to rejoin the campaign trail as she feels better.”

“With early voting starting Wednesday, I look forward to shifting my focus to our Get-Out-The-Vote efforts and speaking with voters at rallies, meet and greets and canvass launches from now through Election Day,” Mathis said.

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